"Narcissus does not fall in love with his reflection becaus… - W. H. Auden

"Narcissus does not fall in love with his reflection because it is beautiful but because it is his. If it were his beauty that enthralled him, he would be set free in a few years by its fading.

"After all," sighed Narcissus the hunchback, "on me it looks good.

The contemplation of his reflection does not turn Narcissus into Priapus: the spell in which he is trapped is not a desire for himself but the satisfaction of not desiring the nymphs.

"I prefer my pistol to my p…," said Narcissus; "it cannot take aim without my permission" – and took a pot shot at Echo.

W. H. Auden

The Dyer's Hand and Other Essays · December 1, 1989 Verified in 1 source Sign up to see the complete provenance

narcissism

English

Collect this quote

About W. H. Auden

Wystan Hugh Auden (21 February 1907 – 29 September 1973) was an Anglo-American poet known for his vast poetic work in many forms on many themes.

Biography information from Wikiquote

Also Known As

Native Name: Wystan Hugh Auden

Alternative Names: Wystan Auden • Wystan H Auden • W. H. Wystan Hugh Auden

All quotes from W. H. Auden Similar Quotes by other Originators

Originators like W. H. Auden:

T. S. Eliot Czesław Miłosz E. M. Forster William Carlos Williams Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Additional quotes by W. H. Auden

But all the clocks in the city
Began to whirr and chime:
'O let not Time deceive you,
You cannot conquer Time

Thousands have lived without love, none without water.

The world needs a wash and a week's rest.

"Narcissus does not fall in love with his reflection because it is beautiful but because it is <i>his</i>. If it were his beauty that enthralled him,… - W. H. Auden

About W. H. Auden

Also Known As

Additional quotes by W. H. Auden